National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
John H. Glenn Research Center
Cleveland, OH 44135-3191
Note: Modification 33 incorporated into the contract an entirely new Section
C – Statement of Work (SOW)
Reply to Attn of: 0610 July 26, 2002
Tim Legel
Director, Business Development
DynCorp Technical Services, LLC
6500 West Freeway
Fort Worth, TX 76116-2187
SUBJECT: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request No. 02-036
Reference is made to your e-mail dated June 5, 2002, wherein you agreed to accept the latest
contract NAS3-99179 modification which contained the most current Statement of Work
(SOW), which is Modification 26 and the original SOW. Modification 26 supercedes the
SOW’s contained in Modifications 10, 16 and 23. In addition, you agreed to accept
Modification 10 which incorporates the original contact and modifications 1 through 9, except
8. This releasability determination addresses Modification 8, 10, and 11 through 28, as well
as the original SOW.
This is to advise that a releasability determination has been made concerning the documents
addressed above related to NASA contract NAS3-99179. In making this initial determination,
the relevant statutes, case law, and guidance, as well as the comments provided by the
submitter of the information contained in the records and the comments provided by
contracting officer were considered. Accordingly, it is my decision to partially deny your
request for information contained in this contract. The basis for this partial denial is set forth
below. The following records have been identified as exempt from disclosure under the
FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)4:
NASA GRC contract NAS3-99179
 Modification 10, Contract Section B.5, Limitation on Precontract Costs.
 Modification 10, Contract Section G.5 – Reimbursement Ceiling Rates – Overhead
percentages, Overhead Base, G&A percentages, G&A Base.
 Modification 27 –The ceiling rate shown in Block 14C of the SF 30.
The information addressed above reveals the unique methods, procedures, and/or techniques
employed by the contractor to accomplish the contract, and, therefore, is considered to be
confidential. The initial determination has been made that these items are exempt from
release under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(4), as “commercial and
financial information, and obtained from a person, and privileged or confidential.”
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In order to properly and effectively conduct procurements, it is necessary for the Government
to obtain detailed technical, financial, and commercial data. Only through evaluation of
complete and accurate data of this type can the Government hope to negotiate an agreement
that best meets its requirements, both cost and technical. It is mandatory that the federal
procurement process be handled in a manner that fosters and promotes uninhibited
transmission of confidential material. In short, public disclosure of this information would
undermine the integrity of the federal procurement process.
The integrity of the procurement process would clearly be compromised if the Government
were to disclose information such as that contained in the exempted items outlined above.
The disclosure of such information would dissuade companies from submitting confidential
information with sufficient levels of detail, or indeed, from participating in future
procurements at all. Because of the importance to the procurement process of maximizing
competition, the Government’s needs would be frustrated.
In addition to protecting the Government's ability to obtain necessary information, (b)(4)
protects the competitive position of submitters. Disclosure of the redacted information could
cause substantial competitive injury to submitters because it would reveal insights into their
business practices. In short, public disclosure of this information would undermine the
integrity of the federal procurement process.
Except as noted above the following documents are enclosed:
 Original SOW
 Modifications 8, 10, and 11 through 28, except the SOW’s contained in Modifications 10,
16 and 23
The itemized charges for furnishing you this material are as follows:
Duplication: $ 38.00 380 pages @ $.10/pg.)
Review Time: 105.00 (3 1/2 hrs @$7.50/1/4 hr- 2 Professionals)
Legal Review 33.75 (3/4 hr. @ $11.25/1/4 hr.)
Total $ 176.75
A check for the charges due should be made payable to the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration. Please forward the check to:
NASA Glenn Research Center
Attn: Cheri Seiler
21000 Brookpark Road, M.S. 500-303
Cleveland, OH 44135
Please be advised that the amount due must be paid in full 30 days after receipt of this letter.
The 30-day period will begin three days after the date of the letter. In remitting your payment,
please reference request number 02-036.
You may appeal this initial determination to the NASA Administrator. Your appeal must (1)
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be addressed to the Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Washington, DC 20546, (2) be clearly identified on the envelope as an "Appeal under the
Freedom of Information Act," (3) include a copy of this initial determination, (4) to the extent
possible, state the reasons why you believe this decision should be reversed, and (5) be sent to
the Administrator within 30 days of the receipt of this initial determination.
If you need further assistance, please contact Virginia A. Bittinger, GRC FOIA Officer, at
(216) 433-2755 or FAX (216) 433-5489.
Original Signed By:
John M. Hairston, Jr.
Director of External Programs
Enclosures
cc:
0222/V.L. Hagerman